Why Is My Dog Peeing In The House All of a Sudden? Decoding The Behavior!
If your adult dog starts having accidents inside the house out of the blue, it might mean they are suffering from a urinary tract infection.
Pet parents may want to monitor their dog’s peeing in the house and take the appropriate steps to curb the behavior.
In this guide, we cover the reasons why adult dogs start showing inappropriate urination.
Possible Reasons Why Is My Dog Peeing in the House All of a Sudden
Here are the possible causes of dog urinating in the house all of a sudden:
Inadequate Potty Training
In young dogs, the puppy may not have been properly housetrained or may have forgotten their training, leading to accidents indoors.
Medication Issue – Urinary Tract Infection
According to PetMD, medical issues like urinary tract infections, bladder stones, kidney problems, or other health conditions are the most common causes of indoor soiling in a previously house trained dog.
Territory Marking
Unneutered or unspayed dogs may mark their territory by urinating indoors, especially when there are other animals nearby or to assert dominance.
Check Out: How to Put a Stop to Dog Urine Marking.
Stress of Anxiety
Dogs may exhibit house-soiling behavior as a response to anxiety, changes in routine, separation anxiety, etc. Even environmental stressors like loud noise can cause your dog to urinate indoors.
Any alterations to the home environment, such as moving to a new house, rearranging furniture, or introducing new pets or even a new baby, can trigger indoor-soiling behavior.
Age-Related Issues
Senior dogs or older dogs above 8 years may experience age-related conditions such as cognitive dysfunction syndrome that could result in urinary incontinence and contribute to sudden indoor soiling.
Submissive or Excitement Urination
Some dogs may urinate when they feel overly excited or submissive, such as during greetings or when encountering unfamiliar people or animals.
Is My Dog Peeing in the House for Attention?
Yes, your canine companion may pee in the house as a way to seek attention.
Dogs are social animals and sometimes engage in attention-seeking behaviors, even if they are negative, like urinating indoors. If your dog feels neglected or lacks mental or physical stimulation, it may resort to attention-seeking behaviors, including urinary accidents or peeing indoors.
It’s important to note that attention-seeking behavior should not be encouraged or reinforced. If you suspect your dog is having urinary accidents in the house for attention, it’s essential to address the underlying issue and provide appropriate outlets for their physical and mental needs.
Ensure that your dog (even older dogs) receives regular exercise, mental stimulation, and positive attention. Establish a consistent routine for feeding, exercise, and bathroom breaks to prevent urinary accidents and provide structure. This is also important for senior dogs.
Why Is My Male Dog Peeing in the House When I Leave?
This form of inappropriate urination is seen in dogs with severe separation anxiety. You may have given your dog attention when it urinated indoors, and as a result, it uses the same action over and over to gain your attention.
If your dog is anxious, try hiring a pet sitter to give it company. You could also consider working from home or having a family member watch your pet. If needed, speak to your vet about the use of anxiety-calming supplements or medicines to ease your dog’s anxiety.
Sometimes, neutered males and spayed females might develop health issues or medical reasons or urinary issues that may cause them to pee inside. on the other hand an intact dog may display marking behaviors. Urine marking will stop once you get your dog fixed.
Why Won’t My Female Dog Stop Peeing in the House?
A fully trained female dog might suddenly pee in the house due to spay incontinence. If you have recently spayed your female dog, she could develop this condition, which causes her to involuntarily lose control.
According to experts, almost 5-20% of spayed female dogs develop this form of urinary issues. These may trigger the peeing inside.
Please discuss the matter with your veterinarian. If needed, use doggie diapers or training pads to prevent urine leaks in the house. You can also try taking your girl several times to help her empty out her bladder and prevent urinary accidents and inappropriate elimination.
In addition to spay incontinence, some female dogs may also have a medical issue such as a bladder infection, causing the indoor soiling. Please rule out this medical issue with appropriate diagnostic testing to prevent further accidents due to loss of bladder control.
Why Does My Dog Pee in the House After Going Outside?
There are several reasons why a house trained dog suddenly pees in the house despite having been taken out for potty break:
Incomplete Emptying
Your pet may still feel the need to empty its bladder. Incomplete emptying could also stem from territory marking and urinary tract issues.
Medical Issues
Certain medical conditions like urinary tract infections, bladder stones, or incontinence can cause frequent urination, making it difficult for your dog to hold it until it can get back outside. Your vet may ask to test the dogs pee to check for bacteria.
Separation Anxiety
Your dog may know you are leaving it for the day. The stress of being alone can trigger sudden urination indoors. Address behavioral causes by seeing a dog trainer.
Territorial Marking
Unneutered male dogs may be marking their territory both inside and outside the house. This behavior can persist even after going outside.
Bad Weather
Many dogs, especially puppies, refuse to pee in the rain or snow. This is one of the most common reasons behind their coming back after a walk and soiling in the same place they previously peed on. Use an enzymatic cleaner to remove the urine odor and deter your puppy from soiling.
Submissive Urination
A new pet might void indoors as a submissive urination or excited response, which can happen even after coming back inside from outside.
Check out our detailed guide on Submissive Peeing in Dogs.
How Do You Punish a Dog When They Pee in the House?
You should NOT punish your dog if it pees indoors. This will make matters worse and might even make your dog aggressive, shy, or fearful.
Instead, use positive reinforcement to train your new pet or potty trained dog. This means rewarding it for good behavior and ignoring unwanted behavior.
It is also crucial to rule out any medical issues or other possible causes for your senior dog suddenly peeing in the house.
In case the underlying cause is marking territory, then have your puppy neutered at the right age.
If the problem persists or you are unsure about the cause why your older dog breaks its daily routine and urinates inside its home, consulting with a veterinarian or a professional dog trainer/behaviorist can help you identify the underlying reasons of suddenly peeing indoors and develop an appropriate plan to address the issue.
How Do I Stop My Male Dog From Peeing in the House?
Here are some things you can do to stop your dog’s indoor accidents:
Take it Out for Potty Several Times a Day
Puppies need at least 6-7 house training breaks in a day while adult dogs need 4-5 potty breaks a day. Your dog might show you cues that it needs to go: sniffing, circling, etc. Make loud noises to distract it then take it out right away.
In the case of the old dog, you may have to re-train it to prevent peeing in the house. If your dog is unable to walk due to old age, use absorbent pads for it to pee on.
Crate Train Your Dog
Most dogs do not soil the areas they sleep in. Crates can help prevent inappropriate urination. Make sure your dog gets adequate potty breaks between crating. Never crate an adult dog for over 3-4 hours at a time.
Hire a Dog Walker/Pet Sitter
They can come to relieve your dog for a potty break. If this is too expensive, you could have a family member or friend help with potty training your dog while you are at work.
Get Another Dog to Give Your Dog Company
Make sure to introduce the two dogs well (on neutral ground). The anxiety-induced urination will stop once your dog has company.
Rule Out Health Problems
If despite these changes the dog pees indoors, then rule our kidney disease and other medical issues- especially stemming from old age. Your vet may ask to test the dogs pee.
Make sure there is no stress in dog’s environment.
FAQs – Why Is My Dog Having Accidents in the House All of a Sudden?
Why is my male dog marking in the house?
Male dogs may mark the house as a way to establish territory or communicate their presence to other animals.
The presence of other animals, changes in the environment, or hormonal factors can all trigger marking behavior. It must be addressed through proper training, neutering, and environmental management.
How do I stop my dog from peeing in the house at night?
To prevent your dog from peeing in the house at night, establish a consistent routine of taking it outside for a bathroom break right before bedtime.
Additionally, limit its access to water a few hours before bedtime and ensure it has access to a designated bathroom area during the night, such as a puppy pad or a specific spot in the yard.
Why is my dog having accidents at night?
Your dog may be drinking a lot of water and may not have had adequate potty breaks before bed. This could result in accidents at night.
Conclusion – What Should Pet Parents Do if Their Adult Dog Starts Peeing in the House Suddenly?
If an adult dog suddenly starts peeing in the house, it’s important for pet parents to first rule out any underlying medical issues by consulting their veterinarian.
Once medical causes are ruled out, assess the dog’s routine, environment, and potential sources of stress or changes that may be triggering the behavior. Addressing any possible stressors, reestablishing consistent housetraining, providing regular exercise, and ensuring frequent bathroom breaks can help resolve the issue.
